Ruth Eleanor Sawyer, aged 94, of Dowling Park, Florida, passed away on February 11, 2026. Born on December 30, 1931, in Bangor, Maine, to the late John Edwin and Isabelle (Katon) Rowe, Ruth took a year of nurses training after high school. She met Sherwood Edward Sawyer while working at W.T. Grants department store in Bangor. They married in 1952. Ruth was devoted to him for 73 years.

In 1963 Ruth became a pastor's wife when Sherwood entered ministry full-time. She supported his work as they served faithfully in Wytopitlock, Cherryfield, and Ft. Fairfield, Maine, as well as Scranton, Moreland, and Greenfield, Pennsylvania.

Ruth held many part-time jobs, often in food service, while being involved in each church as the pastor's wife. She loved to sing in the choir, to study the Bible, and to visit people with Sherwood. Ruth bought land in Dowling Park. They retired there in 1996. She enjoyed her 30 years of retirement in the Advent Christian Village community. Ruth was an avid lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox.

She is survived by her two sons, Timothy Edward Sawyer (Julie) and Paul Andrew Sawyer (Sylvia), as well as her sister Annette. She also leaves behind three grandchildren, Travis Sawyer, Laurie Pettaway (Aaron), and Joshua Sawyer (Lindsey), as well as great-grandchildren Joshua, Jaslyn, Jonaven, Caleyanna, Kingston, Brynn, Brylee, and Brystol. Ruth was preceded in death by her daughter, Lois Ann Sawyer, her brothers John and James, her sister Patricia, and two grandchildren, Mark Sawyer and Bryan Sawyer.

Services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Dowling Park on Wednesday, February 25th at 10:00 am with Dr. Shawn Johnson officiating. Interment will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, family request donating in memory of Ruth Eleanor Sawyer to First Baptist Church of Dowling Park (www.fbcdowlingpark.org) .

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